Commuters face problems as Haryana Roadways go on strike

Chandigarh: Commuters had a harrowing time on Monday as employees of state-owned Haryana Roadways went on a strike demanding abolishment of contractual system and outsourcing of work even as the government imposed prohibitory orders in the area preventing assembly of five or more persons.

"The strike is complete and no state owned bus is plying in Haryana," he said.

Lamba said that employees of other departments of government, semi-government, boards, corporations and universities, too, will join the roadways employees by this evening.

Haryana Roadways has a fleet of some 4,000 buses with an employees strength of 18,000. The employees have been pressing for various demands, including abolishment of contractual system and outsourcing of work, filling up of vacancies, regularization of part time employees, and cancellation of 3,519 permits to private bus operators.

Reports of strike have been received from Ambala, Hisar, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Rohtak an Jind. Over two lakh employees of Haryana government, unhappy over their demands not being met, are on a three-day strike starting on Monday even as the state imposed Section 144 to quell the agitation.

Lashing out at the government, Haryana Karamchari (employees) Coordination Committee accused the government of trying to create differences between various unions of the employees.

"By imposing Section 144, the state government instead of inviting employees for a talk has created a situation of direct clash with employees," the Committee's General Secretary Lamba said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, all departments in Haryana have taken necessary steps to maintain law and order and to ensure essential services do not suffer on account of the strike, an official spokesman said. Besides, instructions have been issued for patrolling in sensitive areas, the spokesman said.